ON THE day he was named as the first foreign winner of the Barclay's Manager of the Month Award Aston Villa chief Josef Venglos heard the alarm bells ringing over his team's UEFA Cup hopes.

Villa take a two goal lead to Italy on Wednesday where they meet the star studded Inter Milan side but they won't want to take that was on display at Stamford Bridge as VILLA's UEFA Cup preparations were rudely disrupted by Graeme Le Saux yesterday.

The young Channel Islander scored an early goal but could have had a hat-trick as Chelsea battered a Villa side who gave a shoddy performance just four days before their second round second leg game against Inter Milan in the San Siro.

Le Saux struck after just five minutes. converting from close range after Dennis Wise had seen his shot blocked.

It was the first goal that Josef Venglos's side had conceded in six outings and Le Saux could have added to it 15 minutes later when his low shot hit the post.

Villa keeper Nigel Spink had to make a string of fine saves from Dennis Wise and Kevin Wilson to keep his side in the match.

Even more worrying for Villa fans, who saw Republic of Ireland defender Paul McGrath return after injury, was the sight of speedy dangerman Tony Daley leaving the field after 55 minutes, victim of several heavy tackles in the first half.

Le Saux’s goal was, in the end, all that divided the teams, but Venglos knew it could have been a good deal worse.

Venglos said:

"This was our first defeat in seven games and it was certainly not one of our best performances.

“But I am confident we will be much sharper and more compact on Wednesday.

"I have spoken to the players and they have taken a lesson from this I don't want to look for excuses but when there is a big game coming like the one on Wednesday maybe the players have that on their mind when the tackles come in."